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San Francisco cabbies protest mayors visiting Uber headquarters

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) – The battle between San Francisco taxi drivers and Uber took center stage Monday as taxis drivers protested a visit to the company’s headquarters by mayors for other cities.

The mayors were attending a national conference in San Francisco. The group got to tour three high-tech companies, including Uber. The city’s ailing cab industry was waiting for them with noise and fury.

Though the cabbies are fighting for their economic lives, it may be too late unless things drastically change.

San Francisco taxi drivers rallied and picketed at Uber’s Market Street headquarters Monday afternoon. A steady procession of cabs circled the rally as well. Their stated goal was to warn every mayor who’s attending the National Conference of Mayors not to tour Uber headquarters.

“We thought we should warn the mayors of the country what it means if you let Uber into your community; what the harm is,” said Kim Waldron of the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance.

The taxi workers said Uber and other companies like it are choking the streets with wandering cars that pollute the air. They added that ride sharing companies are not equipped to pick up the disabled or transport their service animals for free… (more)